Moving display sign



y 1930. G. J. MEAD 1,757,379 MOVING DISPLAY SIGN Filed Sept. 17, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet l Qfrivan 7277 flfif ass; 66071 6 J Mead Ma /4 By 9% y 1930. G. J. MEAD MOVING DISPLAY SIGN 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 17, I928 MOVING DISPLAY SIGN May 6, 1930. J. MEAD v 1,757,379

MOVING DISPLAY S IGN F iled Sept. 17, 1928 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 77 L Jnveflfo'i r (git/$55 6 George J/Wead Patented May 6,1930 1,757,379

Ull iiT'E STATES PATENT @FFEQE GEORGE J. MEAD, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR F ONE-HALF TO OSCAR E. FRIEDER, AND ONE-HALF TO ALFRED F. FBIEDER, BOTH OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS MOVING DISPLAY SIGN Application filed September 17, 1928. Serial No. 306,562.

This invention relates to improvements in from, whereby during the continuous operamoving display signs. tion of the device the display members are One object of the invention is to provide exiiibited repeatedly in the same order of a moving sign for displaying certain inforprocession and the information is thereby oration, so designed that the information disalso repeatedly displayed as desired.

played may be readily changed when desired Other and further objects of the invention Without entirely replacing the information will more fully and clearly appear from he bearing members, thereby greatly reducing description and claims hereinafter followthe cost of operating the sign. ing.

Another object of the invention is to proin the drawings forming a )ttll; of this 60 vide a traveling sign of the character indispecification, Figure 1 is a detailed perspeccated, including a plurality of display memtive view of a device embodying my improved hers exhibited in procession to impart cerdisplay sign. Figure 2 is a top plan view of tain information, wherein the order of prothe device shown in Figure 1. Figure 3 is cession of said members may be changed when a longitudinal vertical sectional view, cone desired to impart dii'l'erent information. sponding substantially to the line 3 3 of A still further object of the invention is Figure 2. Figures 4. and 5 are transverse to provide a traveling display sign, composed vertical sectional views, correspondin subot' a plurality of individual display members stantially to the lines li and 55,. respecadapted to be variously assembled to be pretively, of Figure 3. Figure 6 is a horizontal 7 sented for exhibition in procession in accordlongitudinal sectional view, corresponding ance with the order of each assembly, whereby substantially to the line 6-6 of Figure 3.

the information imparted thereby may be Figure 7 is a vertical longitudinal sectional changed at Will. 7 view, corresponding substantially to the line A more specific object of the invention is 77 of Figure 2. Figures 8 and 9 are vertical 75 to provide a device of the character inditransverse sectional views, corresponding recated, including individual display members, spectively to the lines 8-S and 99 of Fig means for storing said members, the memure Figure 10 is a. horizontal sectional bers'being arranged in predetermined order View through the housing, taken on a plane in said storagen1eans,-1neans forfeeding said immediately above the motor and driving E members in said predetermined order from means shown in Figure 3, illustrating the the storage means and displaying the same mechanism at the right-hand end of said ligin continuous procession to impart desired ure. And Figure 11- is a vertical sectional information. view through the bottom portion of the hop Another object of the invention is to proper shown at the right-hand end of .l iguro vide a device for displaying information, inon an enlarged scale, illustrating the holdcluding a. plurality of individual display lug means for retaining the display plates niembers,.means for guiding said members in Within the supply hopper.

a definite patlnstorage means for said mem My improved display sign device comhers, having a receiving end and a delivery prises a housing A, in which the entire disend. adapted to contain said members in play mechanism is contained. The display stacked relation, means for removing said mechanism Within the housing comprises a members, one at a time, from the delivery mirror B; guide members C disposed above end'oi the storage receptacle and feeding the the mirror; a supply hopper D; a receiving same successively in continuous procession hopper E; guide members F for guiding the e along said guide means,.thereby visually disdisplay plates troni one hopper to the other; playing t-liesame to impart certain inforinaimpair of feed rolls G-G for i'eeding the tion and delivering the same individually display plates continuously along the top through the receiving end of said storage guldeways; feeding mechanism H for remeans in the same order as removed theremoving the plates from the supply hopper; Flo

a lifting mechanism J for feeding the plates to the bottom of the supply hopper; a feed ing mechanism K for feeding the plates from the bottom of the receiving hopper to the supply hopper; and driving mechanism for the movable parts, indicated by L, the same including a motor M which is the source of power. 7

In carrying out my invention, I employ a plurality of individual display members 15, preferably in the form of rectangular plates, and feed the same in continuous procession through an exhibition zone to impart information. The plate-like display members may be formed of any suitable material and carry characters or letters which are reflected onto the mirror of my display sign.

The plate-like members may be formed of metal, such as aluminum, and have the characters or letters stenciled therein, whereby the light rays will pass through the stenciled openings and visibly produce the stenciled letters or characters in the reflecting mirror.

The display plates may also-be formed of any other desired material, such as celluloid or glass, and the letters, characters or other intelligence-conveying medium defined thereon by suitably opaquing the plates around the letters, characters or medium so as to permit the light rays to pass through the non-opaqueportions and permit proper reflection thereof from the mirror. In displaying the plates, the'same are fed in edge to edge contact and, in order to exclude light from passing between the meeting edges of the same, each 7 plate is cut away at opposite sides to provide top and bottom horizontal edge flanges 16 and 17, as most clearly shown in Figures 7 and 11. The flanges 16 and 17 are of such a thickness that when the flange 16 of one plate is overlapped with the flange 17 of the adjacent plate, they form a neat jointand together are of substantially the same thickness as each plate.

The casing A is in the form of a substantially rectangular box, having a removable cover 20, whereby access is obtained to the interior of the housing A. As shown in Figure 3, the cover member 20 is provided with a raised section 21 at the end of the mechanism at which the supply hopper D is located. The raised section of the cover serves the purpose of accommodating certain drive and feed mechanism, hereinafter more fully de scribed. A framework 22 is provided, which carries all of the parts of my improved display sign and the mechanism for operating the same, the framework being removably supported within the housing A.

The framework 22 is directly supported on the bottom of the housing and is provided with a pair of transversely disposed partition walls 23 23, which are spaced inwardly from the opposite ends of the housing A, as most clearly illustrated in Figures 3 and 7.

The walls 23 define the end portions of the display receptacle which contains the mirror 13, the latter being suitably secured to the end walls 23 and disposed in angular or inclined position, as most clearly illustrated in Figure 1, so as to reflect the display matter disposed in the zone immediately above the mirror. The front wall of the casing A is provided with a rectangular opening 2% so as to expose the mirror Band the top wall of the housing is preferably provided with a similar rectangular opening 25, corresponding in size to the openin 24 for the purpose of admitting light so as to make the characters, letters or signs, which are carried by the display members or plates, visible. A pair of spaced channel guides 2626 are secured at the sides of the top of the framework 22 and serve as means for guiding the display members in a straight line path above the mirror 13. As shown, the guides 26 extend from the supply hopper D to the receiving hopper E. The top sections of the channel-shaped guide members 26 are cut away immediately above the receptacles D and E, so as to permit removal of the display plates 15 in a vertical direction from the hoppers to allow reassembling of the plates so that they may be displayed in a different order, as hereinafter more clearly pointed out. The two receptacles D and E are of substantially the same design, each having front, rear and side Walls which are secured together in any suitable manner, the two receptacles being supported directly from the framework 22.

As most clearly shown in Figure 7 the guide members 26 begin immediately to the left of the receptacle or hopper D and terminate at the inner end wall of the receptacle or hopper E. Both of the receptacles or hoppers D and E are open at the bottom so that the display members may pass freely therethrough.

Spaced guide channels F are employed to guide the display plates from the bottom of the receptacle E to the bottom of the recep-.

tacle D, the guide channels being secured to opposite sides of the framework 22 in any suitable manner. 'As most clearly shown in Figure 7, the lower supporting flanges of the guide channels F extend below the receptacles D and E, so that the opposite ends of the display plates 15 Willbe supported thereby and held within the receptacles.

The motor M, for driving the parts of my improved device, is mounted on the bottom plate 27 of the framework 22 and is provided with a worm 28 in mesh with a Worm wheel 29 mounted on a shaft 30 rotatably jou-rnaled in supporting brackets 31-31 secured to the bottom portions of the channel guide members F. Atiopposite ends, the shaft 30 carries crank discs 3232, each of which has a link 33 journaled on the crank pin thereof, each link 33 being connected to a rocking lever arm 34 pivoted between its ends one shaft 35 having its opposite ends fixed in the framework 22. Each rocking arm 34 has a hub section 36 formed integral therewith and a swinging arm 37 formed integral with the hub. The arms 37 are disposed at opposite sides of the supply hopper D and extend slightly above the same. The upper ends of the arms 37 are curved, as indicated at 38. and are connected by a transversely disposed rod 39.

The rod 39 has a pair of feed pawls 4O piv oted thereon, the pawls 40 being spring pressed downwardly by means of coil springs 41-41 secured at one end to the rod and having the other end bearing on the top of the corresponding pawl 40. The pawls 40 are so disposed that they operate between the two channel guide members C. The feeding means H, which comprises the levers 37 and spring pressed pawl-s 40, serves to feed one of. the plate-like members 15 at a time from the top of the supply hopper D.

The feeding mechanism K for feeding the plate-like members 15 from the bottom of the receiving hopper E. is of similar design to the feeding mechanism H and comprises a pair of pawls 42-42 pivotally mounted on a rod 43 carried by a swinging arm 44, the pawls42 being yieldingly urged upwardly by means of coil springs 45 mounted on the rod 43 and each having one end secured to the rod and the other end bearing on the bottom side of the corresponding pawl 42. The arms 44 are pivoted on pins 46-46 at opposite sides of. the receptacle E, as most clearly shown in Figure 3. The upper ends of the arms 44 are pivotally connected to a pair of links 47-47 which, in turn, are pivotally connected to a pair of rocking levers 48-48 pivoted intermediate their ends'on pivot pins 4-9 extending from braces 50 extending between the end wall23- of the framework 22 andthe adjacent end wall of the receptacle E. The members 48 are connected to the arms 37 by means of links 51-51 which have their opposite ends pivotally connected respectively to these members. As will be evident, upon oscillation of the arms 37, the links 51 will be reciprocated, thereby oscillating the members-48 and, through the connecting links 47, swinging the members 44 to feed the platelike display members from the bottom of the receiving receptacle or hopper E.

The feeding mechanism for continuously feeding the display members includes the feed rolls G-G. as hereinbefore stated, the same being mounted respectively above and below the channel guides C. The feed rolls G are preferably covered with rubber, as indicated at 52 in order to have a gripping action on the surfaces of the display plates. The rolls G are journaled at opposite ends in bearings 53-53 fixed'to the guides C. The two rolls are driven in'timed relation by intermeshing gears 54-54 which are fixed to the journal members at one set of ends ofthe rolls. As most clearly shown in Figure 5, the journal at the opposite end of the lower roll G carries a sprocket wheel 55 over which is trained a sprocket chain 56 which is driven from a sprocket wheel 57 fixed to the shaft 30.

In order to lift the plates upwardly from the lower guides F and place the same within the supply receptacle or hopper D, the mechanism J is employed. This mechanism includes a lifting table or plate 58 provided with depending lugs 59 at opposite ends thereof. to which are pivotally connected links 60-60 which have their lower ends pivotally connected to the outer ends of the lever arms 34. The table 58 is also swingingly supported on arms 61-61 which are pivoted at their inner ends to the lugs 59 and at their outer ends to lugs (32-62 secured to the framework 22. stack of plate-like display members 15 within the receptacle or hopper D above the line of feed of the guide members F, retaining spring clips 63-63 are employed, the clips being four in number and disposed in pairs at opposite sides at the front and rear of the hopper or receptacle D. As shown, each of the retaining clips (53 is in the form of a plate-like spring member, having one end secured to the corresponding wall of the re ceptacle D and having the lower end thereof provided with an inwardly offset section 64 which works through an opening in the side; wall and engages underneath the bottommost plate 15 of the stack.

In the operation of my improved display device, the plate-like display members 15 are arranged in stacks in the two receptacles D and E, the bottonimost plate in the receptacle D being supported by the spring clips, as hereinbefore pointed out. The plates are arranged in the receptacles in the order in which it is desired to display the same. so as to give certain information. In displaying the plates, the same are fed continuously through the display zone between the end walls 23 of the display receptacle by means of the continuously rotating feed rolls G-G. hen the device is set in operation, the driving motor M causes the shaft 30 to rotate. thereby imparting swinging movement to the levers 37 and 44, thus imparting reciprocating motion to the feed pawls 40 and As shown in Figure 7, the stack of plates in the receptacle D is of such a height that the uppermost plate is in registration with the guideways .0. Upon reciprocation of the feed pawl 40, the same will engage within the cut-away edge portion of the uppermost plate member 15 and feed the same forwardly toward the rotating feed rolls G. As this plate is fed forwardly, the feed table or plate 58 will be lifted, thereby raising a plate which has been fed below the supply receptacle In order to sustain the or: m

through the bottom thereof, bringing the same into engagement with the bottom of the from the top of the supply hopper or receptacle D to the continuously rotating feed rolls G and the latter advance the same in coninuous procession between the guide members C through the exhibition zone of the device. The platespush each other along the guide members until the first plate reaches the receptacle E, whereupon the same drops into the receptacle on top of the stack of plates 15 therein. During the time that the plates are intermittentlyfed from the top of the supply receptacle D, the feed pawl 42 will be operated in timed relation, thereby feeding the plates from the bottom of the receptacle E to the guide members F. The spring pressed pawls 42 of the feed mechanism K are urged upwardly and are thus brought into engage ment with the edges of the plates underneath the flanges 16 thereof. The plates, which are fed along the lower guideways F, engage edge to edge and are thus pushed along said guides intermittently, bringing a plate below the hopperor receptacle D each time a plate is removed from the top of said receptacle. As will be evident, the plates which are stored in the two hoppers D and E are thus fed continuously through the device in the same order, the information carried by the same thus'being displayed repeatedly. When it is.

desired to change the information displayed by my improved device, it is merely necessary to remove the cover 20 from the housing A and lift the entire mechanism out of the hot 1g. The plates may then be removed through the tops of the receptacles D'and E, and also from the guideways C and F, and reassembled in a different order and replaced within the hoppers and. guideways.

The plates which have been removed from the display device may also be replaced by others, a supply of which is kept on hand, to make the necessary changes in order to display the desired information. A certain number of blank plates are also necessary, in order to provide spaces between letters, words and sentences, as will be obvious.

From the preceding description, taken in connection with the drawings, itwill be evident that I have provided a display sign device, wherein the same plates having the display means thereon may be repeatedly used in different arrangements to impart various information, thereby greatly economizing in While I have herein shown and described v what I consider the preferred manner of carrying out my invent-ion, the same is merely illustrative and contemplate all changes and modifications which come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In a display sign device, the combination with a housing providedwith guideways for guiding individual display plates through an exhibiting zone; of a storage hopper for said plates at each end of said zone; guide means between the bottoms of the hoppers; means for removing plates, one at a time, from the top of one of said hoppers; means for feeding said plates with continuous motion and in procession from said hop- .per along said guides through the exhibiting zone and depositing the same in the top of the other hopper; and means for feeding the plates from the bottom of one hopper to the bottom of the other hopper along said guides connecting the bottoms of said hoppers.

2. In a display sign device, the combination with a housing provided with guideways for guiding individual display plates through an exhibiting zone; of continuously operating rotary feed rollers for feeding said plates successively and in edge to edge engagement along said guideways through the exhibiting zone; and means for returning said plates in succession to the beginning of said exhibiting zone. 1 i

3. lna display sign device, the combination with a supply hopper and a receiving hopper adapted to contain display plates in stacked relation; of guide means between said hoppers for directing said plates through an exhibiting zone; continuously operating feed rollers adjacent said supply hopper for feeding said plates along the guideways continuously in edge to edge engagement and depositing the same in the top of the receiving hopper; means for removing one plate at a time from the top of the stack of the supply hopper and delivering the same to the feed rollers; means for removing the plates, one at a time, from the bottom of said receiving hopper and feeding the same below the said supply hopper; and means for raising the plates, one at a time, to deliver the same to the bottom of said supply hopper.

4;. In a display sign device, the combination with a supply hopper and a receiving hopper adapted to contain display plates in stacked relation; of top and bottom guide members connecting said hoppers; yielding retaining means on the supply hopper for sustammg a stack of plates within said hopper; continuously operating means'for feeding plates with continuous motion along the guideways connecting the tops of the hopper and delivering theisame to the continuously operating feed means; means for removing the plates, one at a time, from the bottom of the receiving hopper and feeding the same below said supply hopper; and means for raising the plates, one at a time, to deliver the same to the bottom of the supply hopper above said yielding retaining means.

In a display sign device, the combination with a plurality of individual display plates; of a housing provided with guideways for guiding individual display plates through an exhibiting zone; a reflecting dis play mirror below said guideways; means for continuously feeding said plates in suecession along said guideways through the an hibiting zone; and means for returning said plates in succession to the beginning of said zone.

In a display sign device, the combination with a plurality of separate display members having diaphanous and opaque sections; of a reflecting mirror; and means for feeding said display members in procession above the mirror between the same and a source of light exterior to said device.

7. In a display sign device, the combination with a plurality of separate display plates, each plate having a top flange at one edgeand a bottom flange at the opposite edge; of means for feeding the plates continuously in endless succession with the top flange of one plate overhanging the bottom flange of the adjacent plate, and displaying the plates in endless procession.

8. A display plate having a character thereon, said plate being of rectangular outline and having one end edge cut away to provide top flange flush with the top surface of the plate and a transverse shoulder below said flange adapted to be engaged by a feeding finger of a feed mechanism and having the opposite end edge cut away to present a bottom flange flush with the bottom surface of the plate and a transverse shoulder above said flange adapted to be engaged by a feed iug finger of a feed mechanism.

9. in a display sign device, the combination with a housing having a display zone; of a plurality of units comprising both blanks and those having intelligence-conveying medium thereon, said units being universally interchangeable one with respect to another and interchangeable with others of like character; power-operated means for advancing endlessly, said units through said display zone, progressively, in a predetermined order, the intelligence-conveying portions of said units being non-opaque to thereby permit passage therethrough of light rays from source outside of said device; and a reflectingmirror disposed adjacent, to and on the side of said units remote from the source of light and in operative position with respect to such of said units as are in the display ZLZIG.

10; In a display sign device, the combination with a plurality of separate display members adapted to be assembled in varying order of procession; of storage means for said members; means for guiding saidmembers t'iirou h a display zone; continuously operating feed means for feeding said members with continuous motion through said display zcne incndless procession; means for feeding is id members from the storage means to the tinuous feed means; means for returning i a members in the order of said procession to said storage means to be repeatedly fed; and a reflecting mirror below said guide means.

11. In a display sign device, the combination with a plurality of separate display elements having an iutelligence-conveying medium thereon; of means for feeding said elements in continuous procession and in horizontal position through an exhibition zone and to returning the same in the order of said procession to be repeatedly fed through said zone in the same order, said means ineluding mechanism for feeding said elements "ith continuous motion through said zone; and a reflecting mirror in said exhibition zone below said elements for rendering visible the intelligence-conveying medium of said elements.

12. In a display sign device, the combination with a plurality of separate display members each having both diaphanous and opaque sections to thereby provide an intelligenceconveying medium of a reflecting mirror disposed in an exhibiting zone; storage means from which said members are supplied; mechanism for feeding said members in succession, from said storage means, including means for feeding said elements with continuous motion and in procession through the exhibiting zone, to one side of said reflecting mirror between the latter and a source of lightexterior to said display device.

13. In a display sign device, the combination with a plurality of display elements; of means for feeding said elements with continuous motion in succession through an exhibition zone; storage means for said elements at opposite ends-of theexhibition zone; means for removing said elements, one at a time, from the storage means at one end of said zone and feeding the same in succession to said continuous feed means, said storage means at the other end of said zone receiving the elements in succession; and feed means for returning the elements in succession from said last named storage means to the other storage means. 1

14:. In a display sign device, the combina- ,tion with a plurality of separate display elements; of guide means for said elements extending through an exhibiting zone; means for storing said elements in stacked relation at opposite ends of said guide means, each storage means having receiving and discharge ends; continuously operating feed means for feeding said elements along said guide means; means for removing said elements, one at a time, from said stack at the discharge end of the storage means at one end of said guide means and feeding the same in succession to said continuously operating feed means, to be fed by the latter in continuous procession through a display zone and to the other storage means; and means for returning said elements, one at a time, from said last named storage means to the receiving end of the other storage means.

15. In a display sign device,'the combination with a plurality of individual display members having diaphanous and opaque sec tions; or" a housing; a reflecting display mirror mounted in said housing; guide means for guiding said members past said mirror through a display zone, said guide means being disposed between said mirror and a source of light exterior to the housing; storage hoppers at opposite ends of said display zone for holding said members in stacked relation; and means for feeding said members in succession with continuous motion through said guide means from one hopper to the other. r I

16. In a display sign device, the combination with a housing provided with guideways for guiding individual display plates through an exhibiting zone; of a storage hopper for said plates at one end of said guide means, from Which the plates are fed; a second storage hopper at the other end of said guide means; means for successively removing plates, one at a time, from said first named hopper; means for receiving said plates as removed and feeding the same in edge to edge relation and with continuous motion through sa d guide means to the second named hopper and depositing the same therein; and means 'ior feeding the plates from said second named hopper to the first named hopper.

17. In a display sign device, the combination with guideways for guiding individual display plates through an exhibiting zone, in

horizontal. position; or" a supply hopper at one end of said zone and a receiving hopper at the other end thereof; means for removing plates, one at'a time, from said supply hopper; continuously operating feed means re-' ceiving said plates as removed and feeding the same in edge to edge engagement, in con tinuous procession and with constant motion along said guides through said vexhibiting zone and depositing the same in th receivginghopper; and means for removing the of August, 1928.

GEORGE J. MEAD. 

